Great comebacks but Espargaro and Rabat disappointed with points tally from Mugello
It’s been two great comebacks without the reward of a podium at Mugello for Pol Espargaró and Tito Rabat, who finished 4th and 13th, respectively. Espargaro came back from a bad start (14th) which Rabat came back strong after going off track (27th). Axel Pons on the other hand was not able to finish the race, being held back by an engine with insufficient performance and a crash when he was in the points positions.
Polyccio Espargaró, who started from tenth, lost four positions in the first three corners. From that moment on he started to make up positions, being just off the podium after passing Corsi, De Angelis, Torres and Kallio in the final laps.
Tito Rabat was in fifth position when he made a mistake, going wide and dropping down to 27th position. Going the same pace as the guys in front he passed many riders to take three points with 13th place.
The Tuenti HP 40 Team stays in Mugello where tomorrow a day of testing wil take place in which the team aims to improve the setting of the Kalex and also the confidence of the riders ahead of the Catalunya Grand Prix.
13. TITO RABAT “I made a mistake when I ran with the front group, I went wide and that moment relegated me from 5th to 27th position. I didn’t feel good with the rear tyre, maybe we went wrong with the selection, and I couldn’t collect the points we were hoping for. I continnued and made up many positions, but three points don’t leave me happy. I want to say sorry to the team, because we did two races with a lot of work which didn’t turn out well in the race. Tomorrow we continue working to be competitive in the race at Montmelo.”
4. POL ESPARGARÓ “This fourth place gives us some points which might be very important at the end of the season, but I’m not satisfied at all. I started from far behind, from 10th place after a qualifying with a lot of problems, and although I could make up many positions I didn’t enjoy myself on the bike at any time. Tomorrow we have to work hard to find solutions for the problems which keep us from going fast and being competitive in all conditions. The next stop is Catalunya and I hope to start catching up in front of the home fans, but that is only possible if we can find an optimal base setting. We have to go race by race and get the feeling back on the bike, because today I was fighting with it a lot and I couldn’t completely focus on going quicker every time.”
AXEL PONS, DNF “I was fighting for the points positions for more than half of the race, but in the ened I crashed I have to try again in two weeks at the Catalunya Circuit. I had a very difficult weekend, on Friday we already had problems with the engine and the other one had a lot less performance than usual. In these circumstances I did the best I could and in the end I lost the bike at the front and was on the ground. I also had a lot of problems with the right arm and this week we have to decide if I will have surgery to not be held back physically.”
Source: Pons Racing
